Audubon birds of america book original

He created about 200 copies of the 3foottall, fourvolume set, each. The book was first published as a series between 1827 and 1838 with the intent to document every known bird in the united states. The last full edition of the birds of america, which went up for auction in 2010. The homestead mill grove in audubon, pennsylvania, is open to the public and contains a museum presenting all his major works, including the birds of america. Sale n10256view print cataloguesothebys is delighted to be offering an early subscribers copy of audubons double elephant folioincomparably the most important and most beautiful colorplate book ever published, containing 435 magnificant handcolored etched plates, depicting in life size 1,065 birds representing 489 supposed species. The book, published by the natural history museum in london, contains 435 large hand coloured prints of engravings by john james audubon. John james audubons birds of america four original. John james audubon 17851851 was an american ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. The birds of america is a book by naturalist and painter john james audubon, containing illustrations of a wide variety of birds of the united states. Original havell engravings, bien color lithograph, octavos, and oppenheimer editions prints.

The original watercolor paintings by john james audubon. Apr 14, 2005 original audubon bien edition birds the bien edition prints of the birds of america were produced by the audubon family by audubons younger son john woodhouse, with assistance from elder brother victor gifford, and thus are properly termed originals. He was notable for his extensive studies documenting all types of american birds and for his detailed. The birds of america is a book by naturalist and painter john james audubon, containing. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to fetch. Books by john james audubon author of birds of america.

These prints were engraved and handcolored chiefly by robert havell in 87 numbers of five plates each. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction to. Jan 09, 2012 as part of my research for the lost bird project, i was graciously given access to the audubon double folio housed in the rare books library at cornell university. May 31, 2018 ornithologist john james audubon labored over his lifes masterwork, the birds of america, from 1827 to 1838. Theres a good reason that the book commands such high.

Nov 14, 2019 john james audubons the birds of america was immediately recognized as an extraordinary achievement and perhaps the greatest contribution ever made of art in the service of science. Produced in collaboration with the uniquely talented printerartist, robert havell, audubon s massive work is as the subtitle of this book says the most famous bird book in the. John james audubons birds of america is a portal into the natural world. Original audubon havell edition produced 18261837 prints for sale. Jun 17, 2015 the birds of america is the iconic work of handcolored, lifesize prints by the famed naturalist, ornithologist, and illustrator john james audubon. Unfollow audubon birds of america book to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to. All 435 illustrations from john j audubons birds of. See more ideas about audubon birds, birds and bird art. The bien edition prints of the birds of america were produced by the audubon family by audubons younger son john woodhouse, with assistance from elder brother victor gifford, and thus. The birds of america from original drawings by john james audubon.

The birds of america absorbed audubons attention for much of his life and its publication took nearly 12 years to complete. Considered the artists greatest triumph, the oversized fourvolume set that contains 435 handcolored prints of his watercolor drawings, published at great personal expense between 1827 and 1838, is the kind of rare book owned only by institutions and one percenters. Audubon s reputation as a great artist and naturalist was recognized throughout the world when he published from london, between 1827 and 1838, his famous double elephant folio prints. All 435 illustrations from john j audubons birds of america are. Birds of america havell edition 182638 the 1st original audubon publication. The lifes work of both a lover and observer of birds and nature. Audubon galleries is the worlds leading dealer in art by john james audubon, including editions of his prints in both elephant folio and smaller formats, as well as his books and even original artwork. Birds of america by audubon, first edition, used abebooks. I shall publish the letterpress in a separate book, at the same time with the illustrations, and shall accompany the descriptions of the birds with many anecdotes and accounts of localities connected with the.

All 435 illustrations from john j audubons birds of america are available. Audubon print prices, audubon price guides, and price guide books. Among the entries on the list of the worlds most expensive books at auction are copies of. As early as november of 1826, shortly after lizars had begun the engraving of the birds of america, audubon had written in his journal. Furthermore, we hold the worlds largest inventory of prints from the 197172 amsterdam edition of the birds of america.

Some of the first 10 prints in the series were produced in scotland by lizars, and the. See more ideas about audubon prints, birds of america, john james audubon. My images of audubon is a very popular cdrom that contains all 500 images of the audubon 1st octavo edition of birds of america, along with audubon s original text for each bird. Besides original prints from the folio editions of audubon s birds and quadrupeds, we frequently offer for sale complete sets of the octavo editions. Our stock of the octavo or small audubon prints is one of the largest in the country. J ohn james audubon, whose name is synonymous with american ornithology, was born in les cayes, haiti then saintdomingue in 1785, and lived in france from the ages of five to. Ornithologist john james audubon labored over his lifes masterwork, the birds of america, from 1827 to 1838. I checked out this book from my library, hoping it had the full collection of birds from audubon s birds of america, but alas the copy by library had only featured 30 color prints from the original book, with a catalog of the remaining 470 prints printed in blackandwhite thumbnails in the back of the book. Unfollow audubon birds of america book to stop getting updates on.

Audubon s aviary illuminates the original masterpieces that were created by audubon himself and tells the story of their creation. In the 19th century it was the usual practice for bird illustrators to work exclusively from preserved specimens, but audubon found this less than ideal. Like his great four volume book, audubon was one of the most colourful. Field guide to john james audubon s 1785 1851 extraordinary illustrations of birds of america, collection of 288 birds paintings in color, accompanied by captions from ornothologist ludlow griscom 1890 1959, known as the dean of the birdwatchers. The birds of america is the iconic work of handcolored, lifesize prints by the famed naturalist, ornithologist, and illustrator john james audubon. And audubons second book, ornithological biography, which was intended to be a companion to the birds of america, would inspire the founding of the national audubon society, one. The audubon museum at john james audubon state park in henderson, kentucky, houses many of audubon s original watercolors, oils, engravings and personal memorabilia. Rare copy of audubons birds of america for sale science. Unfollow birds of america audubon to stop getting updates on your ebay.

During the period 1827 to 1839, audubon produced the images for his monumental the birds of america boa with the assistance of engravers william lizars of scotland for the first few prints and then with robert havell, sr and jr. Each audubon art print is produced using archival inks, ships within 48 hours, and comes with a 30day money back. Audubon print prices, audubon price guides, and price. John james audubons birds of america holds the record as the worlds most expensive book. My images of audubon is a very popular cdrom that contains all 500 images of the audubon 1st octavo edition of birds of america, along with audubons original text for each bird. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction. Printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 lifesize watercolors of north american birds havell edition, all reproduced from handengraved plates, and is considered to be the archetype of wildlife illustration. All 435 illustrations from john j audubons birds of america. The birds of america, from drawings made in the united. Oct 22, 2019 birds of america was printed between 1827 and 1838, and was filled prints created from handengraved plates based on audubons original watercolor paintings. First, it was a moneymaker, successfully marketed throughout the united states on a scale that the great cost of the original. An early subscribers copy of john james audubons double elephant folio incomparably the most important and most beautiful colorplate book ever published.

The birds of america absorbed audubons attention for. The enormous 4 volume double elephant folio carefully and accurately documents more than 430 species of american birds in lifesize prints, making it an important work of natural history and scientific observation. In the 19th century it was the usual practice for bird illustrators to work exclusively. Among the most significant american books of the 19th century, audubons the birds of america is extraordinary in several ways. It also contains all 155 images of the 1st octavo edition of the quadrupeds of north america, along with audubon and the rev.

Some of the first 10 prints in the series were produced in scotland by lizars, and the remainder were produced in london by r. To make the prints, audubons original watercolour images were traced in. Johnson reprint corporation and theatrum orbis terrarum, 197172. As part of my research for the lost bird project, i was graciously given access to the audubon double folio housed in the rare books library at. Audubons reputation as a great artist and naturalist was recognized throughout the world when he published from london, between 1827 and 1838, his famous. In addition to the prints, each birds page also includes a recording of the animals call, plus extensive written texts from the period of the books printing. Guide to collecting john james audubon prints skinner. The birds of america hardcover january 1, 1944 by john james audubon author. Unfollow birds of america audubon to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. We specialize in original and fine reproduction audubon prints, offering a good selection from all editions. I shall publish the letterpress in a separate book, at the.

Birds of america by john james audubon sets booksale. Sep 10, 2010 john james audubon s birds of america holds the record as the worlds most expensive book. Audubon prints birds of america havell edition prints. Original water color paintings by john james audubon for birds of america by john james audubon author, marshall b. Darlington in the midnineteenth century and later donated, as part of his extensive library, to the university of pittsburgh. A copy of the worlds most expensive book, john james audubons. Dec 15, 2017 and audubons second book, ornithological biography, which was intended to be a companion to the birds of america, would inspire the founding of the national audubon society, one of the world. Printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 lifesize watercolors.

Birds of america was printed between 1827 and 1838, and was filled prints created from handengraved plates based on audubons original watercolor paintings. Original audubon bien edition prints, birds of america. John james audubon 17851851 illustration from birds of. Shop for audubon art prints from our community of independent artists and iconic brands. This is an unusually large and brilliantly colored. One of the rarest books in our museum collection volume one of the bien edition of the birds of america 18581860 represents the financial downfall of the audubons in the early 1860s. Birds of america by john james audubon, first edition abebooks.

Original prints from the birds of america by john james audubon this gallery shows the most desirable of all of audubons original art work. Printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 lifesize watercolors of north. The original edition of the birds of america sometimes called the havell edition after its printer, and sometimes called the double elephant folio. Feb 03, 2019 john james audubon 17851851 was an american ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. On june 14, one of the worlds most expensive books, john james audubon s doubleelephant folio of the birds of america, will go to auction in new york city. While audubon was creating birds of america, he was also working on a companion publication, namely, his ornithological biography. I checked out this book from my library, hoping it had the full collection of birds from audubons birds of america, but alas the copy by library had only featured 30 color prints from the original book, with a. Audubon prints birds of america original octavos 1st. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in edinburgh and london. This book is the complete collection of the gorgeous work of john james audubon, all 435 plates of his original workand no there are no missing or out of order. Original audubon havell edition prints, birds of america.